Staff Reporter
THE Ministry of Urban and Rural Development has warned regional councils to improve project implementation and service delivery, while announcing a N$10 million allocation for the Food/Cash for Work Programme to provide temporary income support to vulnerable households and strengthen rural resilience.
Speaking on behalf of Urban and Rural Development Minister James Sankwasa at the opening of the 2026 Annual Rural Development Review and Planning Workshop in Swakopmund, Deputy Minister Evelyn !Nawases-Taeyele said addressing the challenges facing rural Namibia requires innovation, practical solutions and stronger accountability.
She said the workshop, which serves as Namibia’s only national platform dedicated exclusively to rural development, should focus not only on reviewing progress but also on identifying better ways to improve the lives of rural communities.
Photos: Ministry of Urban and Rural Development
Quoting the 2023 Population and Housing Census, !Nawases-Taeyele said 50.5% of Namibia’s population lives in rural areas, making rural development central to the country’s national development agenda.
She acknowledged that while some regional councils have made notable progress, others continue to struggle with poor implementation.
“As we reflect on our progress, we must acknowledge that not all regional councils are performing at the level our people deserve. Some projects remain incomplete, development funds remain unspent, rural development centres stand idle and communities continue waiting for services. This is unacceptable,” she said.
She warned that every delayed project and every unspent development dollar represented a missed opportunity to improve the lives of citizens.
“Public resources are entrusted to us to improve lives, not to remain unused,” she said.
The deputy minister said the ministry would introduce measures to address persistent underperformance and low project execution rates, adding that future resource allocations would increasingly be linked to performance.
“We will support those who deliver, but we cannot condone poor performance and unauthorised expenditure,” she said.
At the same time, she commended regional councils that have demonstrated strong leadership and sound governance, highlighting the Regional Rural Development Forum in Erongo and Ohangwena Region’s continued record of receiving unqualified audit opinions.
Beyond improving project implementation, !Nawases-Taeyele stressed the need to ensure infrastructure such as schools, community facilities and water projects are built to last and continue serving communities for many years.
She also called on public servants to uphold integrity and accountability in the use of public resources.
The deputy minister announced that the ministry has, for the first time, allocated N$10 million during the current financial year to the Food/Cash for Work Programme.
She said the allocation comes as Namibia continues to face high unemployment, with the official unemployment rate standing at 36.9%, while youth unemployment among those aged 15 to 34 has reached 44.1%.
Although she acknowledged that the programme is not a permanent solution to unemployment, !Nawases-Taeyele said it provides immediate income support, creates community assets and strengthens the resilience of vulnerable households.
“We will continue advocating for increased resources so that more communities can benefit,” she said.
She also called for stronger cooperation between the ministry and regional councils, stressing that timely submission of accurate information remains essential for effective planning and decision-making.
!Nawases-Taeyele thanked regional councils, government institutions, development partners, the private sector and civil society organisations for their continued support of rural development initiatives.
She urged participants to use the workshop to strengthen cooperation, improve implementation and ensure rural communities become places of opportunity, productivity and hope.
